Paper Archives - Football Innovation Hub

20 Mar Do the Competitions Played During Congested Weeks Influence the External Load of Spanish Soccer Teams? Analysis by Match Playing Time

Posted at 12:08h in Paper

Congested weeks change everything. Not just how much players run. But how they run. And why. This study shows a simple idea with big consequences. Not all congested weeks are the same. A Champions League week is not a Cup week. And a starter is not...

16 Mar Decoding Victory in Professional Soccer: How Tactical, Technical and Running Performance Shape Match Success in Spanish LaLiga

Posted at 12:30h in Paper

What really wins matches in elite football?Is it possession… or decision-making? This study analysed 380 LaLiga matches to understand how tactical, technical, and physical behaviours change depending on the match outcome — controlling for context like opponent level, ranking, or match location. The Key Message Winning teams don’t...

02 Feb Physical Match Performance of Professional Men’s Football Players from Different Competitive Levels During Direct Competition

Posted at 13:34h in Paper

Do First Division players really run more? Or does everything change when teams from different divisions face each other? Most research compares leagues separately. This study does something different. It analyses 25 Copa del Rey matches across three seasons where Spanish First and Second Division teams competed directly...

01 Feb Influence of competitive level and playing position on the physical and technical demands of professional men’s football

Posted at 13:14h in Paper

Are First Division players physically superior? Or are they simply more technically efficient? This study analysed 1,608 official matches across two full seasons (2021/22 and 2022/23) in the Spanish First and Second Divisions, including 1,050 professional players from 44 teams. The objective was clear. To determine how competitive level...

04 Ene The influence of red cards on match-running performance in elite soccer

Posted at 13:08h in Paper

What really happens when a team goes down to ten men? Or even more interesting. What happens when a team gains a numerical advantage? Red cards are often described as decisive moments that shift momentum, alter tactics and influence match outcomes. But their impact on physical performance is...

03 Ene Tell me your position and the possession style of your team, and I will tell you your running demands

Posted at 13:21h in Paper

How much you run in football is not random. It depends on your position. It depends on whether your team has the ball. And it depends on how long the ball is actually in play. This study analysed 4,254 full-match performances from LaLiga 2023–24, focusing exclusively on effective playing...